The Core insurance default has been removed – All employees must actively enroll in benefits during their Period of Initial Eligibility (PIE) (There will no longer be a default to Core medical, dental or vision)

Once any employee becomes eligible for benefits, eligibility may continue for a longer period of time

Which New Groups of Employees Will Become Eligible for Benefits?

Per Diem appointees, student employees, casual/restricted employees, and employees paid solely as ‘By Agreement’ appointed at 75% time or more for 3 months or more and/or who average 30 or more average weekly hours of service following a measurement period will be eligible for the Core benefits package / 2016 Core medical premiums (For administration purposes these appointments will be referred to as Group B)

Employees in all other appointment types will continue to be subject to the ‘Initial Eligibility Rules’ as outlined in the Group Insurance Regulations, Supplement No. 2 (For administration purposes these appointments will be referred to as Group A)

How Will continuing Eligibility Be Determined?

Measurement for continuing eligibility will happen annually and be based on a 12 month ‘look back’ after an employee has worked at least one full standard measurement period; as a result an employee can remain eligible for benefits for a longer period during employment

Employees that are not eligible for Benefits on their date of hire will be measured approximately 1 year after their hire date (Initial Measurement Period) to determine if their ‘average weekly hours of service’ meet the threshold for benefits eligibility

Employees who remain active but have periods where not hours are worked longer than four weeks but less than 26 weeks will receive up to 501 hours towards continuing eligibility

Employees receiving By Agreement Pay for "hours worked" will have these hours counted towards benefits eligibility